Gentiles

Historically identified as non-Jews or non-Israelites but defined within the Covenant of Christ to include great numbers of descendants of Israel who have lost their identity or knowledge of their original birthright, as well as present-day Gentiles who become included within the House of Israel after conversion. The Messiah taught: But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel (3 Nephi 16:13 CE). When they convert, they are restored through covenant to their status as Israel. The Gentiles make up the majority of readers of this book in the present era. The word is used in Nephi’s writings to include literal descendants of Israel — particularly the Northern Tribes — once they have intermarried and lost their identities, thereby becoming Gentiles. However, as they convert and remake restored covenants with the Lord through baptism, the same people who were Gentiles at one point become “Israel” at another, after their conversion.¹ The church restored through Joseph Smith is referred to throughout the Book of Mormon or Covenant of Christ as the Gentiles. Joseph knew this, and the Kirtland Temple dedicatory prayer, which came to him as a revelation, explained how the church was regarded by the Lord (see T&C 123:18).² All the prophecies of the Book of Mormon upon the Gentiles are references to what the latter-day Gentile church will accomplish (or fail to accomplish).³ Christ’s prophecy (see 3 Nephi 7:5 CE) does not anticipate Gentile success. The Gentiles will reject the fullness offered to them. At that time when the Gentiles shall sin against My gospel does not raise the possibility of if, but only when. According to Christ, the Gentiles shall reject the fullness of My gospel. Taking these words at their plain meaning, it leaves no room for Gentiles to obtain and perpetuate the fullness of the Priesthood. They will, instead, reject it when it is offered them. But despite having rejected it, Gentiles are allowed to repent and join the remnant of the Book of Mormon people and be saved.⁴

If the Gentiles harden their hearts against the Lamb of God, I will afflict them (1 Nephi 3:26 CE). Notice that the relationship is between the Lamb of God and the Gentiles. It is not between the Gentiles and leaders or prophets or administrators or general authorities or even messengers. It is between the Gentiles and the Lamb of God. It’s no wonder that after making great promises to the Gentiles, if they will but repent, the angel cries out, Woe be unto the Gentiles! They won’t receive: (1) the Gospel, nor (2) the testimony of Jesus, nor (3) the prophets sent to warn them or the message given to them, nor (4) the everlasting covenant offered to them.⁵ The church restored through Joseph may be referred to as “latter-day Israel” or similar terms, but the Book of Mormon vocabulary applies the term Gentiles to all members of the latter-day churches.⁶ The Book of Mormon prophecies still do not refer to the latter-day Gentiles as anything other than “Gentiles,” even when they are numbered among the seed of Lehi. In prophecy, their identification remains “Gentiles,” even though they are adopted as Lehi’s seed. Hence Joseph Smith’s reference in the Kirtland Temple dedicatory prayer to the Latter-day Saints as “Gentiles” by identity (see T&C 123:18). Whenever a Gentile manages to acquire this adoption, they do not become identified as the “remnant” as a result. Instead, they become heirs to share in the promised blessings, but they do so as “Gentiles.” They will get to assist the “remnant,” but they do so as “Gentiles,” not as the “remnant.” Still, those who are adopted as Lehi’s seed do inherit, with the “remnant,” the Lord’s promises. But they are nevertheless called “Gentiles” throughout prophecy.⁷

Some of the prophecies outlined for the Gentiles in our day include: The Lord God will proceed with an amazing work among the Gentiles… to reveal and restore the covenants that the Father of heaven made with Abraham (1 Nephi 7:3 CE). And the prophet wrote about the Gentiles who will be blessed. If they repent and don’t fight against Zion nor join that powerful and utterly wicked church, they’ll be saved (2 Nephi 5:5 CE). But the Gentiles will proudly view themselves as superior and will have stumbled because they have a great stumbling block: They build up to themselves many churches, but they have no faith in God’s power and miracles. They praise themselves — their own wisdom and knowledge — in their preaching, so they can make money and oppress the poor (2 Nephi 11:15 CE). The Lord God of Hosts has said: Woe to the Gentiles; because despite extending My welcoming arm to them from day to day, they will deny Me. Nevertheless, I’ll be merciful to them, says the Lord God, if they repent and come to Me (2 Nephi 12:7 CE). All the Gentiles who repent are the Lord’s covenant people (2 Nephi 12:11 CE). In the latter days the truth will come to the Gentiles, so that the fullness of these things will be revealed to them (3 Nephi 7:4 CE). The Father commands Me to tell you: At the time when the Gentiles sin against My gospel and reject the fullness of My gospel and are filled with pride to their very center above all nations, more proud of themselves than anyone on earth, and are full of all kinds of lying, deceit, mischief, all kinds of hypocrisy, murder, priestcraft, whoredoms, and secret abominations — if they do all these things and reject the fullness of My gospel, says the Father, I’ll take the fullness of My gospel away from them (3 Nephi 7:5 CE). This is to be done after the Gentiles — the European Latter-day Saints who descend from the bloodlines that overran and dispossessed the native people in North America — have rejected the fullness of the Gospel.⁸But if the Gentiles repent and return to Me, says the Father, they’ll be included with My people of the house of Israel (ibid.). Therefore, when these works and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the Gentiles, unto your seed. [Not the “book” which was brought forth in 1830, but the “works” of preaching the gospel of Christ. Someone must preach repentance, declare Christ’s doctrine, and baptize by the authority of Christ, allowing the remnant of the Nephites to be baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost],⁹which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity; for thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles that he may shew forth his power unto the Gentiles for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel — and when these things come to pass, that thy seed shall begin to know these things, it shall be a sign unto them that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel (3 Nephi 21:5-7 LE, cf. 3 Nephi 9:11 CE). All of Israel should recognize this witness. But it does require them to recognize or accept this sign. To be fulfilled, God need only give the sign.¹⁰But if the Gentiles repent and hearken to My words and don’t harden their hearts, I’ll establish My congregation among them. And they will enter the covenant and be included with the remnant of Jacob, to whom I’ve given this land as their inheritance. They will join with My people, the remnant of Jacob, and all those of the house of Israel who come, so they can build a city that will be called the New Jerusalem. Then they will join with My people who are scattered throughout the land so they can be brought in together to the New Jerusalem (3 Nephi 10:1 CE).